On the eve of the opening of the U.S. Open, the United States Golf Association confirmed it was making major changes to avoid the fate that befell the past two tournaments held at Shinnecook.
USGA Championship Chief Officer John Bodenhamer said green speeds will be slower for the first two rounds, hole locations will be adjusted to account for unpredictable high winds, and putting surfaces will be lightly watered during morning and afternoon waves.
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“We could brutalize this place in a matter of days if we wanted to,” Bodenhamer said. “That’s not what we’re about. We really want it to be fair, and we want it to always be Shinnecock Hills. That’s going to be tough enough. We’ve pulled every lever we can to make it fair, and I think that’s the message we really want to get across.”
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USGA officials watch as greenkeepers work on the greens during a practice round before the 126th U.S. Open at Sinek Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, June 17, 2026.
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The USGA came under significant criticism during the 2004 and 2018 U.S. Open tournaments held at Shinnecook, with golfers accusing the USGA of losing golf courses.
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In 2004, 28 golfers failed to break 80 on Sunday when the average score was 78.7. Fourteen years later, Phil Mickelson infamously hit a moving ball on the 13th green in frustration and received a two-stroke penalty.
So far, with almost half the field on the golf course (78 golfers), only eight golfers are under par, with Sam Burns leading the tournament at 2 under par.
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